An under-graduate blackmailed 26 women and young girls - including one from Teesside - into performing degrading sex acts via the internet for his sick pleasure.

Joshua Probert had become addicted to pornography when he started using devious tactics to get victims to send him intimate photographs of themselves - before resorting to “sextortion”.

One of his horrified and embarrassed victims, who came from the UK, USA, France, Belgium and the Netherlands, described it as “cyber rape” and when eventually interviewed by police he admitted: “I know, it’s terrible.”

A court heard that one of the victims was a 13-year-old girl from Middlesbrough.

He ignored desperate pleas from his distressed victims - 11 of them children - to delete images and videos in which he had ordered them to perform depraved sex acts.

These include with household items such as hairbrushes, tooth brushes, a pen and even a toilet brush.

Some were made to call him ‘master’ and describe themselves as his ‘slave’ and hold up signs saying they belonged to him.

One had to write a word in lipstick on her chest.

A woman in the USA had been forced to use the toilet, lick the seat and place her head into the toilet for Probert’s pleasure. He then shared the video with another person.

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Jailing Probert for 12 years, with four years extended licence, on Tuesday, Judge Gary Woodhall, said: “When you were 18 years old, addicted to pornography, you embarked on a course of conduct which involved using the internet and applications such as KIK to identify young females who could be persuaded to exchange nude or sexualised images with you.

“You approached those females using false names and identities and pseudonyms no doubt to cover your tracks.”

Once the revealing images were received Probert, sometimes initially pretending to be a female, saved them.

He then used the pictures, together with victims’ personal information he’d obtained from social media and other sources, to blackmail them.

Probert, now 22, who also used Skype, threatened to distribute the images directly to family and friends, or distribute them on social media such as Facebook, so they would do his “bidding”, the judge told the court.

“These were particularly sinister threats designed to place the females in an invidious position - either face public humiliation or agree to your sick and depraved demands.”

He continued: “These offences were designed to allow you to obtain sexual images and videos of these females for your own sexual satisfaction causing significant emotional harm to them.

“Many of your victims, particularly the younger ones, felt unable to stand up to you, and chose the humiliation of performing your demands, rather than suffering public humiliation.

“The demands involved you exercising sadistic control over the females.”

They were “bullied” into performing on a live webcam or send images to his computer which he saved.

His demands involved them engaging in “debasing, degrading and humiliating sexual acts, demands involving exercising dominance over your victims exerting power and control, sado-masochistic in nature.”

Some victims described his behaviour as “aggressive” and “horrible”.

The judge ruled that he poses a significant risk of serious harm, particularly to young females, which means that Probert will have to serve two thirds of the sentence before he can apply for parole.

“You are clearly addicted to this perverted sexual behaviour,” the judge added.

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Probert, of Portland Avenue, Grimsby, had pleaded guilty to 66 offences involving blackmail, making indecent images and causing victims to engage in sexual activity between January 2014 and November last year.

Three other similar offences were left to lie on the file.

Liverpool Crown Court heard that Probert, who has no previous convictions, had studied at Liverpool John Moores University where he gained a BSc degree in sports sciences and had aspirations to become a teacher.

While there he undertook a safeguarding course.

Henry Riding, prosecuting, said that Operation Antenna was commenced by the North West Regional Cybercrime Unit (TITAN) following a complaint received by Merseyside police about ‘sextortion’.

Intelligence checks led to Probert’s IP address and a search warrant was obtained for his home address.

Officers arrived at 6.30am on December 27, last year, but his room was locked.

It was 40 minutes later that he was seen hiding below his bed and he eventually opened the door, by which time he had tried to delete data from his laptop.

Detailed forensic examination of his computer revealed folders containing dozens of images and videos of his victims and more were found on USB sticks.

John Weate, defending, said that Probert, who has no previous convictions, had made full admissions and is remorseful.

A psychiatrist had concluded that he had become addicted to pornography which led to his offending.

Mr Weate said: “He is thoroughly ashamed of his actions and understands he is to be punished.

“He is upset and distressed at the fact that he is capable of such activity with people of a young age.”

The barrister pointed out that none of the threats were carried out and Probert has resolved to do everything he could to become a decent member of society.

The offending co-incided with the breakdown of his parent’s marriage, he added.

Probert was ordered to sign the Sex Offenders Register for life and an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order was made restricting his internet use.